[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 13 (Thursday, January 22, 2009)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 4091-4092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1526]



[[Page 4089]]

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Part II





The President





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Proclamation 8340--Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, 2009



Proclamation 8342--To Suspend Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of 
Foreign Government Officials Responsible for Failing to Combat 
Trafficking in Persons



Executive Order 13487--Establishment of a Temporary Organization to 
Facilitate United States Government Support for Afghanistan



Memorandum of January 16, 2009--Designating Officers of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration To Act as Administrator



Memorandum of January 16, 2009--Designation of Officers to Act as 
President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
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  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 13 / Thursday, January 22, 2009 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 4091]]

                Proclamation 8340 of January 15, 2009

                
Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, 2009

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                On the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, we 
                recognize one of history's most consequential advocates 
                for equality and civil rights, and we celebrate his 
                powerful message of justice and hope. Our Nation is 
                better because Dr. King was a man of courage and vision 
                who understood that love and compassion will always 
                triumph over bitterness and hatred.

                As Americans, we believe it is self-evident that all 
                men are created equal and that freedom is not a grant 
                of government but a gift from the Author of Life. Dr. 
                King trusted in these beliefs articulated in our 
                founding documents even when our country's practices 
                did not live up to its promises. He roused the 
                conscience of a complacent Nation by drawing attention 
                to the ugliness of discrimination and segregation and 
                by calling on Americans to live up to our guarantee of 
                equality.

                Our Nation has seen tremendous progress in redeeming 
                the ideals of America and protecting every person's 
                God-given rights. The historic election of Barack Obama 
                as President of the United States reflects the real 
                advances our Nation has made in the fight against the 
                bigotry that Dr. King opposed. More work remains, 
                though, and we must heed Dr. King's words that 
                ``injustice anywhere is a threat to justice 
                everywhere.'' By continuing to spread his message and 
                demanding that the equal rights he fought for are 
                extended to all people, we can ensure that the dignity 
                of every person is respected and that the hope for a 
                better tomorrow reaches every community throughout the 
                world.

                As we observe Dr. King's birthday, we commemorate his 
                leadership and strength of character. We go forward 
                with confidence that if we remain true to our founding 
                principles, our Nation will continue to advance the 
                cause of justice and remain a beacon of hope to people 
                everywhere.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim January 19, 2009, as the 
                Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday. I encourage 
                all Americans to observe this day with appropriate 
                civic, community, and service programs and activities 
                in honor of Dr. King's life and legacy.

[[Page 4092]]

                 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. E9-1526
Filed 1-21-09; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3195-W9-P